North Canterbury News: November 30, 2023

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RURAL LIFE
North Canterbury News, November 30, 2023
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Clydesdalesreign supreme
ByGINA MCKENZIE
After spotting aClydesdale at the 1995
Oxford A&P Show, Margo Vliet Vlieland
turned to her husband Alan and told him
she wanted ‘‘one of those horses with the
fluffy feet’’ forher next horse.
This chance encounter prompted the
pair to learn all they could about
Clydesdales.
They then bought an 18­month­old
Clydesdale colt.
Now28years later, Alan and Margo
havebred 11 of their own Clydesdales,
including several champions.
After emigrating from Holland in 1993,
the couple were attracted to the open
spaces of North Canterbury and bought
4.5 hectares ofland in West Eyreton a
year later.
‘‘We came from abuilt­up area in the
Netherlands and the idea of having more
space really appealed to us which is why
we moved to New Zealand,’’ says Alan.
The couple purchased four
Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL)
shares when the cooperative started
selling shares in 1998. Alan says the
shares were an insurance for the hay
crop.
‘‘It was abit of agamble buying shares
at the start of the scheme, but it was away
to guarantee agood supply of hay for the
horses.
‘‘It has paid off for us because we have
that security and stability that comes from
knowing that you have the water there
and we can produce much more hay as a
result.’’
When one oftheir horses had problems
with its teeth, Alan and Margo called upon
the services of alocal horse dentist which
in turn piqued Alans interest in equine
dentistry.
In 2003, he travelled to Virginia for a
four­month training course and on his
return, Alan started his own equine
Supreme ... West Eyreton Clydesdale breeder Alan Vliet Vlieland with five­year­old
stallion Goldenlane George whowon the Supreme Champion Clydesdale and New Zealand
Clydesdale Championship for 2023 at the recent Northern A&P Show in Rangiora. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
dentistry business.
‘‘I did both the dentistry work and my
job as an Air New Zealand engineer for a
while and then in 2006, Ibecame afulltime
horse dentist.’’
Alan treats alltypes of horses with most
clients living in the Canterbury area,
however he occasionally travels as far
south as Oamaru and as far north as
Blenheim to treat horses.
Margo and Alan enjoy the gentle nature
of Clydesdales and find that each of their
horses has their own unique personality.
We have alot of affection for them and
as we don’t have children of our own, they
almost become like part of your family.
That’s abig change from the past when
Clydesdales were seen as work horses
before the days of tractors.
‘‘Clydesdales are generally quieter than
other breeds of horses and they usually
live into their twenties.
‘‘It is not unusual for aClydesdale to
live to 25 years old.’’
The pair have experienced success on
the show circuit over the years and were
delighted when their five­year­old
stallion Goldenlane George won the
Supreme Champion Clydesdale and New
Zealand Clydesdale Championship for
2023 at the recent Northern A&P Show in
Rangiora.
‘‘It was areally exciting moment for us
when we heard the winner being
announced. You see all your hard work
paying off in that moment.’’
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